A new humanoid robot has stunned audiences with its eerie realism to the point where many refused to believe it was actually a machine.
The Chinese automaker XPENG unveiled its next-gen robot during its 2025 Tech Day event on November 5, showing off a lifelike android capable of fluid facial expressions and human-like movement.
Clips of the reveal quickly went viral in China, with many viewers convinced it was a person hiding inside a suit. To remove any doubt that there wasn’t any trickery going on, XPENG CEO He Xiaopeng released a follow-up video showing engineers unzipping the robot’s back to reveal its mechanical frame.
Robot so lifelike it had to be cut open
According to Global Times, the robot, known as IRON, features 82 degrees of freedom across its body, a human-like spine, bionic muscles, and flexible synthetic skin designed to simulate realistic motion.
In a viral video shared after the event, XPENG engineers cut open part of IRON’s leg covering on stage to expose its metallic joints. The robot then calmly walked away, showing its internal structure in motion.
XPENG confirmed that the robot runs on a solid-state battery and is being developed for service-oriented roles, including reception and patrol work.
The new humanoid robot is yet another demonstration of China’s rapid push into AI and robotics, from companies testing self-driving cars to research teams developing robots that can play football and perform complex tasks autonomously.
We even reported on a robot that attended a graduation ceremony and accepted a diploma, further bridging the gap between human and AI relationships.
Whether unsettling or impressive, XPENG’s lifelike robot is a major step forward in China’s race to build truly human-like machines.
